Sandy's Spotlight BOOK REVIEWS The Phantom Pilot and Chems by Ann Swann

This is the second book I've read by ANN SWANN and I'm a huge fan. Ms. Swann has the ability to catapult the reader back in time and make us feel as though our somewhat older brains are working on a 12 year-old-level again. This is not an easy task, but she does it with such ease and finesse, and beautifully descriptive writing that it's easy for the reader to get lost in her stories. I've had such fun reading her short story, CHEMS, and this novella, THE PHANTOM PILOT. I've found that while reading her work, I can close my eyes and picture the town and feel the era again that she has described so divinely. Twelve-year-old Stevie needs a friend. Her classmate, Jase, needs a friend that he can talk to without being judged. Jase gathers the courage to share a story he's written, The Shepherd, with Stevie about paranormal events that has happened to him. They come together and between the two of them help three trapped and mourning ghosts move on. This is a truly touching story and I'm really excited to tell you that by the ending, it sounds as though Ms. Swann has left room for a sequel. I sure hope so. I'd love to read more about these kids and the circumstances they find themselves in. I highly recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a good ghost story. While this is a YA novella, this book is good for any age group. By taking us back in time, Ms. Swann has the ability to flawlessly pull even us older kids into the story.

The Phantom Pilot Blurb:What do you do when a phantom needs your help?

A small plane crashes into Jase's backyard, and before long, he realizes the ghost of the pilot is haunting him. Jase needs help to rid himself of this supernatural visitor. When he sees his friend, Stevie, entering the town's legendary haunted house, he's certain she's the one who will have the answer to his problem. But will she help him? Would you?

This is the first Zombie book I've ever ventured to read and I'm so glad I did! I absolutely loved ANN SWANN's writing style. In CHEMS, Ann Swann was able to convey humor, fear and gore in a short story that left me wanting for nothing.

The way Ms. Swann wrote the thoughts and dialog for an eighth-grade boy reminded me of Stephen King's writing style in his novel Christine. She was able to transport me seamlessly back to that time in my life with the boy's thoughts and feelings. They were absolutely spot on.

I fully intend to read more of Ms. Swann's work. I have highly recommended this book to family members and friends. Even if you are not a zombie person, you'll enjoy this read.

Chems Blurb:WARNING! Not your typical zombie story. This one is more about the boy who encounters the chemical zombie. If that doesn't interest you, then this story isn't for you... In this 7,200 word short story, Billy discovers a chemical zombie hiding in his dad's toolshed. Can he devise a way to keep the whole thing secret in order to help find, and destroy, a rogue CHEM named Z ?